Meet the Quality Team
Project Manager, Quality
Drawing on 20 years of industry experience, Craig Cochran consults, writes, and speaks on management, problem solving, and quality. He is the author of several books on quality and management, including ISO 9001:2015 in Plain English and Internal Auditing in Plain English: A Simple Guide to Super Effective ISO Audits.
Expertise: Quality, ISO 9001, Auditing, Problem Solving, Integrated Management Systems, Leadership Development, Culture Change.
Education: MBA from the University of Tennessee, B.S. in Industrial Management from Georgia Tech. Professional certifications from the American Society for Quality (ASQ) and Exemplar Global.
Project Manager, Operational Excellence/Energy and Sustainability
Kelly Grissom works with companies on a variety of improvement projects including, energy and environmental assessments, layout and design projects, 5s, process flow, job instructions, and ISO system implementation. In addition, he is the assistant director of Georgia Tech's Industrial Assessment Center.
Expertise: Energy Management, Energy Efficiency, Energy Systems (Steam, compressed air, process heating, chilled water, pumps & fans). Plant Layout & Design, Lean Process Improvement
Education: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Earth and Atmospheric Science from Georgia Tech, Engineer-In-Training (EIT) Certified
Director
Tim Israel directs the GaMEP and guides the program's efforts to advance Georgia manufacturing.
Expertise: Lean Manufacturing, Quality Management Systems, Supplier Development.
Education: M.S. and B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech.
Project Manager, Quality Management Systems
Olivia Pitts is a Project Manager specializing in Quality Management Systems, based in the Savannah office. She has an extensive background in Quality Management with manufacturing companies in the printing and chemical industries. She holds multiple certifications in Quality Management, is a certified Project Management Professional, and has a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
Expertise: Quality Auditor, Organizational Excellence, Project Management, Certified Lead Auditor ISO 9001 and ISO 14001
Education: Bachelor of Science - Printing Management from Georgia Southern University
Industry Manager, Food Safety and Quality
By enhancing Food Safety and Quality Systems, Wendy White helps food companies achieve compliance with governmental regulations and exceed customer expectations. She holds leadership positions in the Georgia Association of Food Protection (GAFP) and the International Association of Food Protection (IAFP.) She also serves on the Editorial Board of Food Safety Magazine.
Expertise: HACCP, FSMA Food Safety Plans, Pre-requisite Programs, Recall/Crisis Planning, Supply Chain Management, Internal Auditing, and GFSI Audit Certification
Education: M.S. Food Microbiology B.S. Biology from the University of Georgia. She holds the Quality Auditor Certification from the American Society of Quality.
Project Manager, Quality
Rodger Weyant provides quality and food-safety training, auditing, and coaching to help organizations improve their processes and meet customer, statutory, and legal requirements.
Expertise: Quality Systems, Integrated Management Systems, Problem Solving, Food Safety.
Education: MBA from the University of South Carolina, B.S. in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh. ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence.
